Backup Wife (The Jilted Wives Club Book 4), page 10
We were sitting outside, drinking Peroni, and watching the kids swim.
I glanced over at him, gauging him for any inside knowledge he may have, but his expression was relaxed and happy, so I knew he hadn’t heard anything about a relationship between me and Charlotte.
It wasn’t that I wanted to keep it from him, but since things between us were uncertain right now, I didn’t see any point in possibly upsetting him for no reason.
“Hung out, painted, took a trip to Rome,” I replied casually. “We had a nice time.”
“That’s good. I worried the surprise of having her here at the same time as you may have put a damper on your trip. I know you were looking for some alone time.”
“And I got it. We weren’t in each other’s pockets or anything. I did a lot of sketching and painting, and it was actually kind of nice to have someone to go to dinner with.”
“Nice,” Luca said with a grin. “It looks like my ma’s kicked Maria out of the kitchen. I wish she’d take a break and enjoy herself.”
“This is how she enjoys herself. By being with family and feeding them.”
“I know. I just worry about her, and my dad. They aren’t getting any younger.”
I pointed to his dad, who was currently snoozing in one of the lounge chairs, and said, “Giovanni has no problem taking it slow.”
Luca chuckled and said, “No, my dad’s the king of naps. Meanwhile, my ma can’t sit still for two minutes.”
“I’ll go see if she needs any help and try and talk her into playing cards later, okay?”
My best friend nodded and lifted his beer in thanks, as I got up and went inside to find Franny.
I found her in the kitchen, as expected, singing along to whatever record she’d put on as she minced garlic for her sauce.
“How’s my best girl?” I asked, moving in to give her a kiss on the cheek.
“Damon, it’s so good to see you,” she said, smiling up at me as she looked me over. “You look rested.”
“Hmm,” I murmured. “You want to tell me what game you were playing, sending me and Charlotte here at the same time, while keeping it a secret from everyone?”
Franny gave me a look of pure innocence, which I didn’t believe for a second, and replied, “You know, it’s funny how that happened. I didn’t even realize you’d be here at the same time until I was talking to Luca, and he put it together.”
My face clearly expressed my disbelief, but I didn’t contradict her.
She glanced at me slyly and asked, “So, how did that go, anyway? The two of you being here together … alone.”
I told her the same thing I’d told Luca, and she looked disappointed, until I said we went to Rome.
“You took a trip?” she asked, her eyes hopeful.
“We did. We drove down to Rome for a night and then stayed in Cortona for a night.”
“How did that go?” she pressed.
“Rome was amazing,” I began, then paused when Sky came running through the house with Charlotte on her heels. They were both laughing and when Char caught her, she picked her up and swung her around, then Sky put her little arms around Charlotte’s neck and hugged her tight.
Sky had been all over her mom since she’d arrived. It was so obvious she really missed her over the last few weeks. She’d even given me a big hug when she saw me, which wasn’t unusual, but felt more meaningful to me now.
“I see,” Franny said, her tone causing me to pull my eyes off of Char’s back as they walked outside and look down at her. Her lips were curved up in a smile and she had a knowing look on her face. “That’s good then.”
“Franny,” I warned.
“What?” she asked with a shrug. “I’m happy my lovely daughter and the son of my heart had a nice time together. Sue me.”
“I don’t want you to get your hopes up…”
Franny laid her hand over mine on the counter and said, “There’s nothing wrong with a little hope, it’s what keeps us moving forward.”
“I think you should just marry me,” I said fondly.
“Giovanni would never let me go. He’d be lost without me.”
“Ain’t that the truth. We all would be.”
“Oh, you charmer,” she said with a light laugh. “You go out and spend time with the young people. Have fun.”
“Okay, but your son would like to see you out there relaxing too. I know you like to make sure we’re all having a good time, but it would make your kids happy to see you out there with everyone enjoying the day too, not just stuck in the kitchen.”
“Once I get the sauce simmering, I’ll come outside.”
“Promise?” I asked. “Cause if you’re not out there in fifteen, I’m coming back in here.”
“I promise. Now, go, see if my daughter needs any help with Sky. She can be a handful.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
TWENTY-NINE
CHARLOTTE
“So, tell me everything I missed while I was here.”
We were all standing in the shallow end of the pool, drinking mimosas and catching up. The day was clear, with a gorgeous blue sky, and the villa was alive with happiness and love.
Summer was holding Tennyson and bobbing slowly up and down to get him used to the water. He was so chill, he just laid in her arms, taking everything in and gurgling in response. “Tenny can hold his head up now. His neck is so strong … isn’t it, sweet boy?”
“I can’t believe how calm he is. I don’t think Sky was ever that still,” I joked, glancing over to see my daughter playing with Stella, Whitney’s daughter, in the grass. Stella was helping her put together a puzzle and I could see Sky’s mouth moving and her arms waving around as she talked. “She’s so good with her,” I told Whit.
“Stella’s been babysitting for a few years now and she’s always loved kids,” Whitney said, obviously proud of her teenaged daughter.
“How about you, Margo? Everything good with you and Tommy?” I asked.
Tommy was Aiden’s eleven-year-old son and Margo would soon be his stepmom. As someone who never planned on having kids, I knew it was an adjustment for her.
“He’s an easy-going kid. Funny, curious, and sweet. He’s pretty easy to get along with,” she said as she leaned back against the pool deck and let her long legs rise up in the water as she began to kick softly.
“Tommy’s the best,” Andi said, which was expected since she was his aunt. “The other day he and Midnight spent the day with me on the farm and that kid had me cracking up!”
“He loves being at the farm,” Margo said, her head tilted back to the sun. “Enough talk about kids. Since no one else is going to bring it up, let me point out the elephant in the room.”
Everyone seemed to go very still, and I knew I was about to be called out.
“What’s going on with you and Damon?” she asked, getting straight to the point.
I looked around at the ladies and it was obvious that they all knew, and they’d been speculating.
“Keep your voice down,” I said, glancing around the pool to see if anyone was listening.
Vanni and Sara were in the laydown chairs with my dad, who was still napping, while Luca, Noah, and Aiden were all sitting at the outdoor table with my mom, eating the snacks she’d brought out. The kids were playing catch with Damon, some in the pool, some on the grass. It didn’t look like anyone was paying attention to us.
“Spill,” Summer said gleefully.
I looked at Whit, because out of everyone, as Luca’s wife, she may be the only one who’d have a negative reaction to what Damon and I had been doing. I wasn’t sure why I thought so, but it definitely had me worried.
“Based on your faces, I’m thinking you’ve guessed that Damon and I have been more than platonic these last few weeks…”
“Duh,” Summer began. “The way he looks at you sets my blood to boiling.”
I glanced over and saw him sitting on the blanket with Stella and Sky doing the puzzle.
“We decided to have a little vacation fling before everyone got here.”
“So, that’s it? It’s over now?” Whitney asked.
I gave a half shrug and said, “It’s complicated. Obviously, we have a history … He’s part of the family and best friends with Luca. If something went wrong, it would break my heart, and theirs. And after Nigel, I don’t know how I feel about sharing my life with someone again. Plus, there’s Sky…”
“Look at him, he’s great with Sky,” Andi said, gesturing to where Sky was currently climbing all over him. “And, yes, he’s close to your family, but at least you know they’ll get along. Heck, they already all love each other, so that takes the pressure off the whole meet the family thing.”
“And he’s hot,” Margo added.
“Smokin’,” Summer agreed, causing me to laugh.
“Obviously,” I said, shaking my head. “But it’s Damon.”
“Exactly, it’s Damon,” Whitney said intently. “How has it been between you?”
“Fun, easy, hot.”
“I believe that,” Andi said, still looking at Damon.
“Stop staring,” I whisper shouted at her.
“It’s pretty hard to do. The man is gorgeous,” she said, finally looking away from him and at me. “Inside and out.”
“How does he make you feel?” Whit asked.
I sighed and said honestly, “Like myself. Like it’s okay to be me. He’s thoughtful, and he listens. He doesn’t get embarrassed when I dress up in a medieval gown or feel the need to always been the one in control. Being with him has been an eye-opening experience. It’s refreshing.”
“And the sex?” Margo asked.
I let out a startled laugh and admitted, “Fantastic.”
“Of course, it is,” Andi said dreamily.
“Stop looking at him,” I chided.
“I don’t think I can.”
“So, what you’re saying is that when you told me you’d fallen asleep painting and that’s why you had paint on your neck, you were being a dirty liar,” Margo guessed.
I grinned at her and said, “It was from when we’d painted each other the night before.”
“How would that get paint on your neck?” Summer asked, then her eyes widened, and she said, “Oh, you mean you physically painted each other’s naked bodies.”
When I bit my lip and nodded, they all started squealing, which brought everyone’s attention to us.
I met Damon’s gaze across the yard and felt my cheeks heat. I hoped he assumed it was from the sun.
“Okay, we’re done talking about this,” I said, moving to the steps so I could get out of the pool.
“For now,” Andi called. “But I expect a full report later.”
I shook my head and kept my eyes ahead, not daring to look over at Damon again.
THIRTY
DAMON
“It’s great having you guys here,” I said to Luca, Noah, Aiden, and Vanni.
We were sitting outside by the firepit Giovanni and his sons had put in last summer, drinking Peroni and swapping stories.
It had been a day full of excitement and now that the jet lag and time difference were starting to hit, I could see them all winding down.
“I’m excited to be here,” Aiden said, his eyes starting to droop. “Italy has always been on my dream list of places to go. It was very nice of your parents to invite us, Luca.”
“Yes, extremely,” Noah agreed, getting to his feet, and weaving slightly. “I’d better go see if Summer needs help putting Tennyson down for the night.” He let out a low chuckle. “I don’t think I’ll be far behind him. I’m suddenly exhausted.”
“Yeah, the first night’s kind of tough and you’ll probably be up before the sun until you get used to the time change, but it only took a couple days for my body to catch up,” I assured the group.
Everyone stood, making murmurs about getting some sleep and seeing everyone in the morning. Once I was left alone, I cleaned up the pool deck and outdoor tables, taking the empties and trash inside so that Maria wouldn’t be met with a mess in the morning.
Once I made sure everything was locked up for the night, I poured myself two fingers of bourbon and headed upstairs to my room.
When I got to my room, I changed into sleep shorts, put on some background music, and sat down to do some sketches of the day. I captured the kids playing, the ladies laughing, and the guys in a cutthroat game of spades.
And I had a couple sweet pictures of Sky that I wanted to go through and give to Charlotte.
It was getting late, and the drink I’d brought up was just a memory, when a knock sounded on my door.
I crossed the room and opened the door to find Charlotte standing on the other side. She was wearing drawstring pajama pants and a tank top with her hair pulled back in a ponytail. She looked tired and nervous.
“Hey,” I said, leaning on the door jam. “What’s up?”
Char looked back and forth down the hall, as if making sure no one saw her at my door, which made feel a little irritated.
“Can I come in?” she asked.
I stepped back in invitation, and she stepped in, closing the door quickly behind her.
“Is Sky asleep?”
“Yeah,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest. “For a couple hours now.”
She walked farther into the room, glancing at the sketches I had littering every surface, and I hated how weird things felt between us.
“I love this,” Charlotte said, picking up a sketch of Sky and Franny.
“Keep it,” I offered.
“Thanks,” she said, then walked up to me and put her arms around my waist. Automatically, I held her to me, and she rested her cheek on my bare chest. “I miss you.”
“I’m right here,” I replied, dropping a kiss on top of her head.
“I miss the way things were last week,” she amended.
“Yeah, me too.”
Charlotte leaned back and looked up at me. “Can I stay here for a while?”
“You can be here whenever you want. I’m just following your lead, right?”
“Damon, I know this stinks but I need a little more time to figure things out. I love spending time with you and these last few weeks have been amazing, but I need to know how it would work in the real world.”
“What better way to find out than to actually be together for real?” I asked.
“It’s just … complicated. I’m sorry.”
“What do you say we forget about everything outside of this room for now?” I suggested, not wanting her to leave, even if it made me an idiot.
Charlotte’s face cleared and she said, “That would be great.”
“Would you like some wine?”
“Yes, please.”
“Okay, I’ll be right back.”
I headed down to the kitchen to refill my glass and pour Char some wine, and when I was about to go back upstairs, Noah came stumbling into the kitchen, rubbing his face.
“Hey,” I said, very aware of the fact I was holding two drinks in my hand but hoping he wouldn’t notice.
“Damon, hi. I, uh, need to grab one of Tennyson’s bottles,” he said, gesturing to the drying rack by the sink.
“Is he having a hard time going to sleep?”
Noah shook his head. “He was asleep, just woke up hungry. I’d better get back.”
“Okay. Good night.”
“Night.”
I went swiftly up the stairs, successfully reaching the room without running into anyone else, and knocked with my foot. Charlotte opened it and let me inside, taking the glass I offered her. As I walked in, I noticed she’d straightened up my sketches and put them all in a neat pile on the dresser.
“You didn’t have to clean up.”
She shrugged and said, “I needed something to do with my hands.”
We moved to sit on the bed, sipping our drinks and talking softly until we couldn’t stand it anymore. I’m not sure which one of us moved first, but we left our drinks forgotten on the nightstand and came together in desperation.
We made love into the night, clinging to each other even as we reveled in the pleasure. Feeling content and satiated, I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep, and when I woke, she was gone.
THIRTY-ONE
CHARLOTTE
I’d felt guilty leaving while Damon was still sleeping. He’d looked so comfortable and heart-achingly handsome, I’d wanted to crawl back into bed and snuggle up against him. But I knew I needed to be back in my room when Sky woke up.
She’d woken up early, but happy and ready for another day of fun with her family. Having everyone together like this was amazing, especially for the kids, and I knew we would all have memories to last a lifetime.
Once I’d gotten us both ready, we went downstairs in search of breakfast … and coffee.
I walked into the open living room and could see my mom and Summer talking excitedly as they sat at the island sipping coffee.
“Good morning,” I called as we got closer.
“Good morning,” my mom replied happily, glancing over at us and holding out her hand. “Bring my baby to me.”
I complied, depositing Sky in my mom’s lap, and moving to grab her a muffin. Once I had it cut into smaller pieces on a plate, I set it in front of her and moved to pour myself a cup of coffee.
After my first sip, I finally glanced up and noticed the look on Summer’s face. She looked like she was about to burst with exciting information.
“What’s going on?” I asked, looking between the two of them.
“I’m getting married!” Summer cried, then slapped her hand over her mouth and giggled.
“I know,” I said, looking pointedly at her engagement ring.
“I mean … this weekend.”
“What?” I asked, shocked. “How? When?”
“Noah and I were talking in the middle of the night when we were up with Tenny,” she started, all the words coming out in a rush. “At first it was just a ‘what if’ conversation … you know, what if we got married here, in this beautiful country with all of our friends, rather than waiting another year and planning some huge thing that neither of us want. Then I saw Franny this morning and told her about it and she said we could make it happen if we really wanted to.”
